Chaffinch

Gmina Czyże, located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, within Hajnówka County, is characterized by its rich cultural and national heritage. The administrative seat of the gmina is the village of Czyże. Between 1975 and 1998, the gmina was part of the Białystok Voivodeship. It is noteworthy that in 2010, the Belarusian language was introduced here as an auxiliary language. The gmina is one of the places in Poland with the highest percentage of residents belonging to a national minority, with over 76% of inhabitants declaring Belarusian nationality according to the 2011 census. The residents of the gmina are predominantly of Orthodox faith; there are three parishes here: in Czyże, Kuraszewo, and Klejniki. Gmina Czyże enjoys unique political preferences that arouse interest—in 2010, it recorded the highest support for Bronisław Komorowski in the country, and in 2015, it had the lowest support for the Law and Justice party in Poland. The gmina covers an area of 134.2 km², with a predominance of agricultural land and a small share of forested areas. In 2004, the population was 2,599, but according to data from 2019, it decreased to 1,960. Among the localities of the gmina, villages such as Klejniki, Kuraszewo, and Kamień stand out, as well as smaller settlements without the status of a village administration, like Leszczyny and Podwieżanka. The gmina borders other municipalities, such as Bielsk Podlaski and Hajnówka, which contributes to a diversity of cultural influences. Interestingly, despite the decline in population in recent years, Czyże remains one of the important hubs for the Belarusian community in Poland.